Unholy Orders: Tragedy at Mount Cashel

by Michael Harris

Recounts the investigation and testimonies in the child molestation case against the Christian Brothers at the Mount Cashel Orphanage

406 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1991

About the author

One of Canada’s top investigative writers, Michael Terry Harris was winner of the 1995 Arthur Ellis Award for best true crime book for The Prodigal Husband: The Tragedy of Helmuth and Hannah Buxbaum. Formerly the publisher of the Sunday Express in St. John’s and later the Executive Director of News and Current Affairs for the Newfoundland Broadcasting Corporation, Harris has also been Queen’s Park correspondent for the National Post, and a national affairs columnist for the Sun News Service. Today, he host’s his own radio program, “Michael Harris Live,” on CFRA in Ottawa.

Harris’s previous books consist of the award-winners Justice Denied: The Law versus Donald Marshall (1986), Unholy Orders: Tragedy at Mount Cashel (1990), Rare Ambition: The Crosbies of Newfoundland (1992), The Prodigal Husband (1994). The Judas Kiss: The Undercover Life of Patrick Kelly (1995), was made into a television movie starring Paul Gross, and Lament for an Ocean: The Collapse of the Atlantic Cod Fishery (1998) was a national bestseller. To date, his work has sparked four royal commissions of inquiry.

Reviews

[Ammar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that narrates a dark chapter of the history of St John's and Newfoundland. Sexually and physically abusing children in a catholic orphanage over a period of 25 years, a series of cover ups, the power of the church in the local community and in the corridors of power.

One of the best Canadian non fiction books I read. Harris proves again to be one of the best investigative journalists in the country.

An interesting read for anyone interested in the sexual abuse scandals of the Church and those interested in the history of Atlantic Canada.

[Jeff Bursey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came out while the reverberations of the revelations of priests and Christian Brothers finally being investigated for their crimes against altar boys and orphans were still shaking people in newfoundland and labrador. A lot of material had to be covered and people's lives followed (victims, investigators, criminals and their abettors). Harris has presented a picture featuring corruption and ineptitude in the religious orders, the police of st. john's, nl, the government bureaucracy in two departments, and the political leadership from the 1960s through 1990. Recommended.

[Lisa McFeeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard not to get angry while reading this book. The author, Michael Harris, does an excellent job of summarising all the information of a dark past of a Catholic orphanage. Harris exceptionally balances graphic details of the physically, sexual and emotional abuse, with the details of the inner turmoil carried within the victims of these crimes. While there was a lot of information and names to remember, I feel it was a necessity in order for the readers to fully captivate and realise the depth of 25years worth of crimes being covered up by the very officials in government positions that were supposed to protect the boys. Each one of the boys, whether they gave statements to the police or not, are extremely brave for surviving appalling abuse.

[Dvorah Richler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was disturbing because it chronicles the real story of sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic brothers at an orphanage in Newfoundland. I wanted to read it because I grew up in St. John's and I had an interest in the subject, as well as believing I owed it to the children who were abused to read and better understand what they all went through. I will never forget it.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty detailed well-written historical read. Can't say it would be as interesting if it didn't happen in my home province. It was powerful to read about such a tragedy so close to home. Even if I did read it over a decade later. I would definitely read more non-fiction accounts by Harris.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE STORY OF CLERGY SEX ABUSE AT A CATHOLIC ORPHANAGE IN CANADA

Michael Harris is an investigative journalist, who has written other books such as 'Justice Denied: The Law Versus Donald Marshall.' This 1990 book is an account of sexual abuse of boys taking place at the Mount Cashel Orphanage in Newfoundland in Canada. He wrote in the Introduction, "On January 12, 1988, Father James Hickey was charged with multiple sex crimes involving adolescent boys... Since Hickey was Newfoundland's most celebrated priest, his case became a media sensation... the Hickey scandal burgeoned into a full-blown crisis for the Roman Catholic church and its 205,000 faithful in Newfoundland---over a third of the island's total population.

"In the year following Father Hickey's arrest, several other Catholic clergy were charged with sex-related offenses involving young boys... Regrettably, the church's response to the crisis rarely rose above simple recognition of the problem, and when it did, the result was usually self-interested chicanery rather than concern for the victims of sexual abuse by the clergy." (Pg. xxi-xxii)

He observes, "Far from believing he was violating his priestly responsibilities, Father Hickey felt he was observing the letter of the First Lateran council... when the Roman Catholic church... required the vow of celibacy. But Hickey had a private definition of celibacy that allowed him to pursue his fleshly preferences with impunity: if the sex didn't involve a female, then anything was permissible... Father Jim was nothing if not a master of keeping up appearances---and of making his former victims do the same." (Pg. 11)

He points out, "The physical abuse meted out by many of the Brothers terrified the little boy, who had no way of knowing that such severe corporal punishment was often the classic precursor of sexual assault, which required above all else a compliant victim... 'We cannot reasonably expect a child who is required to passively bend over for a beating on Monday to say 'No' to a pedophile on Tuesday.'" (Pg. 40-41)

He notes, "the former Social Services Minister may well have had another reason for not wanting to look too closely at the shortcomings of Mount Cashel. After the closure of the United and Anglican orphanages in St. John's, Mount Cashel was by far the cheapest place to accommodate needy children within an overburdened social services system." (Pg. 343) He concludes, "Clearly, church officials were reluctant to expel or defrock what is, by any corporate measure, an endangered species within the Catholic church---the parish priest." (Pg. 371)

This is an engaging (if often horrifying) account of one of the earliest Catholic clergy sex abuse cases, and it will be of interest to anyone studying such matters.

[Marie Faulkner]

I had to get this book and read it..My father was in there and ran away from there when he was 14..He never would talk about it so i had to find out what happened..It really disgusts me

[David Wadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for the faint of heart.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt anger, disgust and an incredible sadness while reading this book due to the vast physical, sexual and mental abuse endured by young boys in a local catholic run orphanage in St. John’s, NL.
I felt anger that the Catholic Church had so much control over the Justice system that local police wouldn’t step in to assist the boys when they begged for help. When the boys would run away, police would just bring them back to their abusers. Media and the government also fell down on the job by refusing to help the boys.
I felt disgust at what the boys endured and the society that allowed it to happen for decades and I felt sadness that the boys, who did live and escape the system, had to struggle with the aftermath of their abuse and the justice that they deserved.
I wanted to read this book because I remember watching the news when an inquiry was finally started back in the late 80’s. I remember that all the adults were talking about it and the resulting loss of a church controlled society.
I know that this situation isn’t isolated to this province, but I found the author did a great job with this telling of events. It wasn’t easy to read, but hopefully the mistakes of the past won’t be repeated ever again.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very sad, disturing and troubling, but yet amazing how the people endured so much!